Center for Transportation Safety
Motorcyclist Attitudes Toward Safety Gear: A Re-Analysis
of Survey Data
Stephanie QuinnMichael Manser
Human Factors ProgramTexas A&M Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University
Center for Transportation Safety
Motorcyclists Safety Equipment Use ProgramProject ID: 2016-TTI-G-1YG-0082
Deliverable for:
Objective 4: Develop 1 Additional Campaign Message by 9/30/2016
Survey 200 Texas Motorcycle Riders by 1/31/2015
Activity: TTI will Further Analyze the FY15 Rider Survey and Identify AdditionalMessage(s)
Sponsor:Texas Department of Transportation125 East 11th StreetAustin, TX 78701
Special acknowledgement to D.J. Jeffries
Center for Transportation Safety
Problem Identification
The rate of motorcycle related fatalities (n = 460) and serious injuries (n = 5,202, 2013) in Texas continues to be one of the highest in the United States (n = 4,957, 2012).
Only Florida and California are worse.
In 2012 in Texas, 52% of the motorcyclists killed were not wearing rudimentary safety equipment.
Center for Transportation Safety
2015 Survey Findings
What is “All the gear, all the time?”• ATGATT needs clarification
The most frequent reasons cited for notwearing gear include
- Not as important on some rides- Feels better to ride without it- Heat/weather
There is a crucial need to - understand why Texas riders do not wear safety equipment- identify additional information that would promote gear use- deploy a program to educate riders
Why do and why don’t riders wear gear and how can that information be used to encourage gear use?
Center for Transportation Safety
Motorcycle Gear Use Survey
All Gear Some Gear No Gear
Methods• Sample Size: N = 203• Locations: Motorcycle events,
dealers, shops, on the street• Sex: Men and women• Age: 18 +
Limitations…
Results• Demographics• Gear Use• Reasons for Wearing or Not Wearing Gear• Reasons that Encourage Gear Use• Media and Messages
All the Time Some Times Never
Center for Transportation Safety
Demographics
Sex: 80% men, 20% women
Education: 1% less than HS, 14% HS, 34% some College, 13% AD, 27% BS, 10% GD
Area of Residence: 54% large city, 37% small city, 15% small town/rural area
Income:
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
20%
18-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61 andover
Female
Male
$0-$24,999
$25,000-$49,999
$50,000-$74,999
$75,000-$99,999
$100,000-$124,999
$125,000-$149,999
$150,000-$174,999
$175,000-$199,999
$200,000 and up
12% 17% 17% 19% 11% 8% 5% 2% 7%
Center for Transportation Safety
Demographics-Ride Frequency
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
6-7 days a week 3-5 days a week 1-2 times a week Less than once aweek
Less than once amonth
Center for Transportation Safety
Gear Use and Ride Frequency
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Helmet (all types) Jacket with impactprotectors
Motorcycle pantswith impactprotectors
Gloves Over-the-ankleBoots
6-7 days a week
3-5 days a week
1-2 times a week
Less than once a week
Center for Transportation Safety
Gear Use and Miles per Year
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Helmet (alltypes)
Jacket withimpact
protectors
Motorcyclepants with
impactprotectors
Gloves Over-the-ankleBoots
Less than 1000
1000 to 2999
3000 to 4999
5000 to 7999
8000 or more
Less gear was found to be associated with high frequency, but shorter duration riders.
Miles per Year Number of Respondents
Less than 1000
17
1000-2999 433000-4999 475000-7999 368000 or more 68
Gear use increases as miles per year increases.
Center for Transportation Safety
Reasons for Wearing Gear by Age and Sex
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
18-30 31-50 51 and over
Peer pressure (fromfamily, friends, and/orpeople I ride with)
Habit
Protective benefits
Weather(cold/rain/wind)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Female Male
Peer pressure (fromfamily, friends, and/orpeople I ride with)
Habit
Protective benefits
Weather(cold/rain/wind)
Center for Transportation Safety
Reasons for Not Wearing Gear by Age and Sex
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
18-30 31-50 51 and over
Not as important on somerides (short, low-speed,etc.)
Feels better to ride withoutit
Heat/weather
Inappropriate attire forwhere I'm going (work,event, etc.)
0%5%
10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%
Female Male
Not as important onsome rides (short,low-speed, etc.)Feels better to ridewithout it
Heat/weather
Inappropriate attire forwhere I'm going(work, event, etc.)
Center for Transportation Safety
Incentives to Wear Gear by Age and Sex
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
18-30 31-50 51 and over
Information about what typesof injuries it will prevent orreduce
Information about the odds ofsurviving a crash with vs.without the gear
My friends or family asking meto wear more gear
More riders around mewearing gear
Motorcycle club/event rulesrequiring certain types of gear
0%5%
10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%
Female Male
Information about whattypes of injuries it willprevent or reduceInformation about the oddsof surviving a crash with vs.without the gearMy friends or family askingme to wear more gear
More riders around mewearing gear
Motorcycle club/event rulesrequiring certain types ofgear
Center for Transportation Safety
Media and Messages by Age and Sex
Where do you get most of your motorcycle safety information from?
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
18-30 31-50 51 and over
Internet
Friends
I do not accessmotorcycle safetyinformationOther
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Female Male
Internet
Friends
I do not accessmotorcycle safetyinformation
Other
Center for Transportation Safety
Conclusions
Campaign Messages to Target Trends in Gear Use
All Gear for All Rides• Less gear use associated with high frequency, short duration riders• “Not as important on some rides” is common reason to not wear gear (49% 31-50)
All Gear in All Weather• At least 25% of all riders in all age groups do not wear gear due to heat/weather
Center for Transportation Safety
Contact InformationMichael ManserHuman Factors Program [email protected]
Center for Transportation Safety
Gear Use and Education Level
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Helmet (alltypes)
Jacket withimpact
protectors
Motorcyclepants with
impactprotectors
Gloves Over-the-ankleBoots
High school degree orequivalent (e.g., GED)
Some college but no degree
Associate degree
Bachelor degree
Graduate degree
Center for Transportation Safety
Gear Use and Income
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Helmet (all types) Jacket withimpact protectors
Motorcycle pantswith impactprotectors
Gloves Over-the-ankleBoots
$0-$49,999
$50,000-$99,000
$100,000 and up
“Optional” gear tends to increase with level of education and income
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